Lyndon Wainwright
Encyclopedia
Lyndon Bentley Wainwright (born Scarborough, Yorkshire, 7 December 1919) is a metrologist
, ballroom dancer and author. He worked at the National Physical Laboratory (NPL) during World War II
, and is a former Chairman of the British Engineering Metrology Association. After the war, he was a leading exhibition dancer, and one of a small group of experts who introduced Latin American dance
to Britain. Wainwright has written nine books on ballroom dancing. He received the Carl Alan Award for 1996 and 1999, and other honours from the dance community.
Wainwright is also an expert on phonogram performance rights
, involved in playing music in public; and a member of the British Ring of the International Brotherhood of Magicians
. He married three times: to Felicia Heslop (married 1943, divorced 1960); Isobel Scott (m1964–div.1969); Hope Gandy (m1973). There is a son from his second marriage.
: the science of precision measurement). From September 1939, this facility worked mainly in support of the war effort, and so employment there was to some extent a reserved occupation
: key employees were not called up for military service if the employer made appropriate application to the War Office
. In addition to their work, staff members were expected to join the NPL Fire Brigade as part-timers or the ARP
(air-raid warning and fire watch).
Later in life, when his active career as a dancer was over, Lyndon returned to metrology, working at the National Engineering Laboratory in East Kilbride
, Scotland for four years, and then for seven years was Head of Quality Control and Metrology at PIRA, the Research Association for the Printing, Packaging and Paper Making Industries (formerly PATRA, the Printing Industry Research Association) in Leatherhead, Surrey. In this capacity he lectured in the UK and abroad, and sat on committees of the International Association of Research Organizations in the Printing Industries. Lyndon was Chairman of the English Metrology Association from 1967 to 1972.
, they started to compete as a professional couple. In 1948 they won the Premier Prix in a World’s Professional Eight Dance Ballroom championship, staged in Paris
. Then they specialized in the Latin dances and helped to introduce these dance forms to the British public. The partnership was billed as Lyndon & Felicia for their dance exhibitions, which were given in clubs, ballrooms, restaurants, celebrations and on television. On BBC tv, they appeared in shows such as Casa de Salta with the Edmundo Ros
Orchestra, and Victor Silvester
’s BBC Dancing Club, dancing rumba, samba, paso doble and mambo. Between 1950 and 1960, the pair were probably the leading exhibition dancers of Latin American style in England. At their peak, they were presenting over 400 shows a year, often several times at different venues on a Sunday, and they also ran dance studios in Kingston
, Ewell
and Purley
in Surrey
. They were engaged to perform every alternate Dancers’ Night for a year at the Hammersmith Palais
.
invited Lyndon to take part in a television documentary
Last Man at the Palais dealing with the history of the Hammersmith Palais
. The Palais had opened in 1919 as a dance hall and entertainment venue, and finally closed in 2007. With a fellow professional, Lyndon danced a waltz
, which was the last dance shown on the televised program, first screened on BBCtv 4
, Christmas Eve 2007.
After his dance partnership and marriage ended in 1960, Wainwright devoted himself to teaching, writing and the administrative side of the dance world. He has been Executive Councillor, Hon. Treasurer, and Company Secretary of the International Dance Teachers Association
(IDTA). He has served as a delegate to the British Dance Council
and as founder and Hon. Secretary of its Teachers’ Committee, and on the Council for Dance Education and Training, and the Central Council of Physical Recreation. He is an acknowledged expert in the Performing and Phonographic Rights involved in playing music in public. For over 50 years he has contributed articles to dance magazines such as Dance Teacher (now Dance International), Ballroom Dancing Times (now Dance Today), and Dance Expression. Wainwright has also written articles for the Daily Mirror.
The dance profession has honoured Lyndon for his services to dance. In 1996 and 1999 he received the Carl Alan Award, in 1998 the Classique de Danse, in 2000 the President’s Award of the Ballroom Dancers’ Federation, and in 2005 the Distinguished Service Award of the IDTA.
Wainwright L. 1966. The equipment and services of the PATRA metrology section. The Printing, Packaging and Allied Trades Association. Engineering Report #5, 17pp.
Wainwright L. 1967. An introduction to metrication for printers. The London Printer 2, 74-77.
Wainwright L. 1968. Changes to metric measures. The Penrose Annual 61, 139-149.
Wainwright L. 1969. For the technologist. Lithoprinter April, 29-31.
Wainwright L. 1969. Going metric: why the SI system will make things simpler, PIRA News #12, January.
Wainwright L. 1971. Measurement of mechanical transmission errors in lithographic processes. PIRA/IARIGAI International Conference on Applied Lithographic Technology 1970. Chapter 19, 17pp.
2002. The Youthscan Project: teenage attitudes to, and involvement in, dance.
Metrology
Metrology is the science of measurement. Metrology includes all theoretical and practical aspects of measurement. The word comes from Greek μέτρον , "measure" + "λόγος" , amongst others meaning "speech, oration, discourse, quote, study, calculation, reason"...
, ballroom dancer and author. He worked at the National Physical Laboratory (NPL) during World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
, and is a former Chairman of the British Engineering Metrology Association. After the war, he was a leading exhibition dancer, and one of a small group of experts who introduced Latin American dance
Latin dances
Latin dance is a general label that refers to various forms of ballroom dance and folk dance, and can include a wide range of dances originating in Latin America ....
to Britain. Wainwright has written nine books on ballroom dancing. He received the Carl Alan Award for 1996 and 1999, and other honours from the dance community.
Wainwright is also an expert on phonogram performance rights
Performing rights
Performing rights are the right to perform music in public. It is part of copyright law and demands payment to the music’s composer/lyricist and publisher . Public performance means that a musician or group who is not the copyright holder is performing a piece of music live, as opposed to the...
, involved in playing music in public; and a member of the British Ring of the International Brotherhood of Magicians
International Brotherhood of Magicians
International Brotherhood of Magicians is the world's largest organization for professional and amateur magicians, with approximately 15,000 members worldwide. The headquarters is in St...
. He married three times: to Felicia Heslop (married 1943, divorced 1960); Isobel Scott (m1964–div.1969); Hope Gandy (m1973). There is a son from his second marriage.
Metrology
After his education and upbringing in Scarborough, Wainwright joined the NPL, the largest applied physics laboratory in the UK, in 1939. There he trained and worked as an engineering metrologist (metrologyMetrology
Metrology is the science of measurement. Metrology includes all theoretical and practical aspects of measurement. The word comes from Greek μέτρον , "measure" + "λόγος" , amongst others meaning "speech, oration, discourse, quote, study, calculation, reason"...
: the science of precision measurement). From September 1939, this facility worked mainly in support of the war effort, and so employment there was to some extent a reserved occupation
Reserved occupation
A reserved occupation is an occupation considered important enough to a country that those serving in such occupations are exempt - in fact forbidden - from military service....
: key employees were not called up for military service if the employer made appropriate application to the War Office
War Office
The War Office was a department of the British Government, responsible for the administration of the British Army between the 17th century and 1964, when its functions were transferred to the Ministry of Defence...
. In addition to their work, staff members were expected to join the NPL Fire Brigade as part-timers or the ARP
Air Raid Precautions
Air Raid Precautions was an organisation in the United Kingdom set up as an aid in the prelude to the Second World War dedicated to the protection of civilians from the danger of air-raids. It was created in 1924 as a response to the fears about the growing threat from the development of bomber...
(air-raid warning and fire watch).
Later in life, when his active career as a dancer was over, Lyndon returned to metrology, working at the National Engineering Laboratory in East Kilbride
East Kilbride
East Kilbride is a large suburban town in the South Lanarkshire council area, in the West Central Lowlands of Scotland. Designated as Scotland's first new town in 1947, it forms part of the Greater Glasgow conurbation...
, Scotland for four years, and then for seven years was Head of Quality Control and Metrology at PIRA, the Research Association for the Printing, Packaging and Paper Making Industries (formerly PATRA, the Printing Industry Research Association) in Leatherhead, Surrey. In this capacity he lectured in the UK and abroad, and sat on committees of the International Association of Research Organizations in the Printing Industries. Lyndon was Chairman of the English Metrology Association from 1967 to 1972.
Career in dance
Wainwright met his first wife, Felicia Heslop (Newcastle-upon-Tyne, 14 April 1920 – September 1993), in 1940, and they soon started to train as a ballroom dance couple. They married in 1943, the year they first gave a dance exhibition for payment. After taking coaching from Monsieur PierreMonsieur Pierre
Monsieur Pierre, or simply Pierre, was the professional name of Pierre Jean Phillipe Zurcher-Margolle, . Pierre was a professional dancer and dance teacher: he was primarily responsible for introducing the Latin American dances to England, and for codifying them, and laying the groundwork for their...
, they started to compete as a professional couple. In 1948 they won the Premier Prix in a World’s Professional Eight Dance Ballroom championship, staged in Paris
Paris
Paris is the capital and largest city in France, situated on the river Seine, in northern France, at the heart of the Île-de-France region...
. Then they specialized in the Latin dances and helped to introduce these dance forms to the British public. The partnership was billed as Lyndon & Felicia for their dance exhibitions, which were given in clubs, ballrooms, restaurants, celebrations and on television. On BBC tv, they appeared in shows such as Casa de Salta with the Edmundo Ros
Edmundo Ros
Edmundo William Ros OBE was a Trinidadian musician, vocalist, arranger and bandleader who made his career in Britain. He directed a highly popular Latin American orchestra, had an extensive recording career and owned one of London's leading nightclubs.- Life :Ros was born in Port of Spain, Trinidad...
Orchestra, and Victor Silvester
Victor Silvester
Victor Marlborough Silvester OBE was an English dancer, author, musician and dance band leader. He was a significant figure in the development of ballroom dance during the first half of the 20th century, and his records sold 75 million copies from the 1930s through to the 1980s.- Early life...
’s BBC Dancing Club, dancing rumba, samba, paso doble and mambo. Between 1950 and 1960, the pair were probably the leading exhibition dancers of Latin American style in England. At their peak, they were presenting over 400 shows a year, often several times at different venues on a Sunday, and they also ran dance studios in Kingston
Kingston upon Thames
Kingston upon Thames is the principal settlement of the Royal Borough of Kingston upon Thames in southwest London. It was the ancient market town where Saxon kings were crowned and is now a suburb situated south west of Charing Cross. It is one of the major metropolitan centres identified in the...
, Ewell
Ewell
Ewell is a village in the borough of Epsom and Ewell in Surrey, close to the southern boundary of Greater London. It is located 14 miles south-south-west of Charing Cross and forms part of the suburbia that surrounds Greater London. Despite its growing population it is still referred to as a...
and Purley
Purley
- in England :*Purley, London**Purley Way, out-of-town retail area*Purley-on-Thames, in Berkshire- People :*David Purley , British race driver*Purley, several members of a fictional family in 1996's Secrets & Lies...
in Surrey
Surrey
Surrey is a county in the South East of England and is one of the Home Counties. The county borders Greater London, Kent, East Sussex, West Sussex, Hampshire and Berkshire. The historic county town is Guildford. Surrey County Council sits at Kingston upon Thames, although this has been part of...
. They were engaged to perform every alternate Dancers’ Night for a year at the Hammersmith Palais
Hammersmith Palais
The Hammersmith Palais de Danse, later simply the Hammersmith Palais, was a ballroom and entertainment venue in London that operated from 1919 until 2007...
.
Reviews of the partnership
- “The highlights of their career are their appearances as demonstrators at the first ever World Congress of Teachers of Dancing organised by the Official Board of Ballroom Dancing, their several appearances on television with Edmundo Ros and Victor Silvester, and their demonstrations in Switzerland, Holland, Éire, Ulster and Denmark…
- “Lyndon and Felicia are now well on their way to their two thousandth demonstration… Within Great Britain they have travelled over 100,000 miles to give demonstrations… It is estimated that nearly one million people have seen these demonstrations personally, apart from those who have seen them on the television screen.”
- “Together they broke box office records all over the country, in an era when England was producing the most beautiful dancers in the world.” Kenneth Lee.
- “If ever a list is produced of the six best show business [acts] from the world of ballroom dancing in the past 50 years, it would not be complete without [them].” Walter LairdWalter LairdWalter William Laird was a major influence in the development of Latin American dancing in Britain after the Second World War. He was World Professional Latin Dance Champion three times. He coached many successful dancers including Allan Tornsberg, Vibeke Toft, Espen Salberg, Jukka Haapalainen,...
.
- “They must have been one of the top ranking and highest paid duos of that and many other eras.” Bob More.
- “In the early 50s Lyndon & Felicia were well known for their wonderful cabaret – they didn’t follow the normal trend – they studied all types of Latin American rhythms. Some that they danced, such as Blues, Mambo and the Mexican Jarabe, are quite new to many people today, but Lyndon and Felicia studied them, and presented every time a cabaret with a difference.” Peggy SpencerPeggy SpencerPeggy Spencer MBE is a British professional ballroom dancer, choreographer, competition adjudicator and organiser....
.
Later dance work
Many years later, the BBCBBC
The British Broadcasting Corporation is a British public service broadcaster. Its headquarters is at Broadcasting House in the City of Westminster, London. It is the largest broadcaster in the world, with about 23,000 staff...
invited Lyndon to take part in a television documentary
Documentary
A documentary is a creative work of non-fiction, including:* Documentary film, including television* Radio documentary* Documentary photographyRelated terms include:...
Last Man at the Palais dealing with the history of the Hammersmith Palais
Hammersmith Palais
The Hammersmith Palais de Danse, later simply the Hammersmith Palais, was a ballroom and entertainment venue in London that operated from 1919 until 2007...
. The Palais had opened in 1919 as a dance hall and entertainment venue, and finally closed in 2007. With a fellow professional, Lyndon danced a waltz
Waltz
The waltz is a ballroom and folk dance in time, performed primarily in closed position.- History :There are several references to a sliding or gliding dance,- a waltz, from the 16th century including the representations of the printer H.S. Beheim...
, which was the last dance shown on the televised program, first screened on BBCtv 4
BBC Television
BBC Television is a service of the British Broadcasting Corporation. The corporation, which has operated in the United Kingdom under the terms of a Royal Charter since 1927, has produced television programmes from its own studios since 1932, although the start of its regular service of television...
, Christmas Eve 2007.
After his dance partnership and marriage ended in 1960, Wainwright devoted himself to teaching, writing and the administrative side of the dance world. He has been Executive Councillor, Hon. Treasurer, and Company Secretary of the International Dance Teachers Association
International Dance Teachers Association
The International Dance Teachers Association is a leading dance teaching and examination board based in Brighton, England. Operating internationally, the IDTA is one of the largest dance teaching organisations in the world and currently has over 7,000 members in 55 countries...
(IDTA). He has served as a delegate to the British Dance Council
British Dance Council
The British Dance Council was formed in 1929 as the Official Board of Ballroom Dancing . The name was subsequently changed in 1985 to the British Council of Ballroom Dancing and in 1996, the name was changed to British Dance Council...
and as founder and Hon. Secretary of its Teachers’ Committee, and on the Council for Dance Education and Training, and the Central Council of Physical Recreation. He is an acknowledged expert in the Performing and Phonographic Rights involved in playing music in public. For over 50 years he has contributed articles to dance magazines such as Dance Teacher (now Dance International), Ballroom Dancing Times (now Dance Today), and Dance Expression. Wainwright has also written articles for the Daily Mirror.
The dance profession has honoured Lyndon for his services to dance. In 1996 and 1999 he received the Carl Alan Award, in 1998 the Classique de Danse, in 2000 the President’s Award of the Ballroom Dancers’ Federation, and in 2005 the Distinguished Service Award of the IDTA.
Membership of dance organisations
Wainwright is or has been a member of these dance organisations:- Member, Academie des Maitres de Danse de Paris.
- Fellow, Executive Councillor, Hon. Treasurer and Examiner (Ballroom and Latin-American branch), International Dancing Masters’ Association (IDMA).
- Member, Midland Association of Teachers of Dancing (Latin American branch).
- Member, Scottish Dance Teachers’ Alliance.
- Member, Imperial Society of Teachers of DancingImperial Society of Teachers of DancingThe Imperial Society of Teachers of Dancing is a leading dance teaching and examination board based in London, England and operating internationally. Established on 25 July 1904 as the Imperial Society of Dance Teachers, it changed to its current name in 1925 and is now a registered educational...
(Ballroom branch). - Member and Examiner, Ballroom and Latin branches. Executive Councillor, Hon. Treasurer, and Company Secretary of the International Dance Teachers AssociationInternational Dance Teachers AssociationThe International Dance Teachers Association is a leading dance teaching and examination board based in Brighton, England. Operating internationally, the IDTA is one of the largest dance teaching organisations in the world and currently has over 7,000 members in 55 countries...
(IDTA). - Vice-President of La Sociedad Internacional de Profesores en Baile en España. [Danscene 21 September 1989]
Books
- Lyndon & Felicia: Ballroom dances of the Continent and Latin America. [1949]. This book included the rumba, the samba, the paso doble, the blues, the Viennese waltz, the jive, the conga and the tango: an exceptionally wide range of dances.
- Better dancing. Kaye & Ward, London 1983.
- First steps to ballroom dancing. Lyric books, London 1993.
- The story of British popular dance. IDTA 1997.
- The dance teacher’s handbook. British Dance Council. 2001. Advice on what you need to consider before you open your first dance school; the general process of teaching; and the business aspects of running a school.
- Strictly dancing ballroom. ABC, Sydney 2005.
- Let’s dance: the essential guide to ballroom for amateur dancers. HarperCollins, London 2005. This, a best seller, has been translated into five other languages.
- Latin dancing (Need to know series). HarperCollins, London 2006.
- Ballroom dancing (Need to know series). HarperCollins, London 2007.
Engineering papers
Munday F.D. and Wainwright L. 1965. The story of S.I. units and their use in the paper and board industry. Paper Technology, 11, 39-46.Wainwright L. 1966. The equipment and services of the PATRA metrology section. The Printing, Packaging and Allied Trades Association. Engineering Report #5, 17pp.
Wainwright L. 1967. An introduction to metrication for printers. The London Printer 2, 74-77.
Wainwright L. 1968. Changes to metric measures. The Penrose Annual 61, 139-149.
Wainwright L. 1969. For the technologist. Lithoprinter April, 29-31.
Wainwright L. 1969. Going metric: why the SI system will make things simpler, PIRA News #12, January.
Wainwright L. 1971. Measurement of mechanical transmission errors in lithographic processes. PIRA/IARIGAI International Conference on Applied Lithographic Technology 1970. Chapter 19, 17pp.
Ballroom Dancing Times & Dance Today
- 1956. Recent recordings. BDT vol 1 November p89
- 1960. Televiewing. BDT 5 November p76
- 1961. The Juniors take their turn. BDT 5 May p416
- 1963. Your first competition. BDT 6 June p466
- 1963. Heel turn. BDT 7 October p27
- 1963. Nerves! BDT 7 November p69
- 1963. Footwork. BDT 7 December p140
- 1964. Leg action. BDT 7 January p194
- 1964. Smile, please! BDT 7 February p260
- 1964. Knees. BDT 7 March p306
- 1964. Tackling the Tango. BDT 7 April p366
- 1964. Tango atmosphere. BDT 7 May p415
- 1964. Steps outside. BDT 7 July p537
- 1964. A word for the Ladies. BDT 7 August p604
- 1965. Your first competition. BDT 8, September p650
- 1965. The new competitor? BDT 9 July p524
- 1966. A question of judgement. BDT 10 January p183
- 1966. Calculating the marks. BDT 10 February p218
- 1966. What would Market Research find? BDT 10 July 502
- 1966. Competitions. BDT 10 September 646
- 1966. The IDMA – DTA merger. BDT 11 October 11
- 1967. Dancing and social change. BDT 11 January p168
- 1967. The influence of Professionals. BDT 11 February p185
- 1967. Here to stay. BDT 11 March
- 1981. Lyndon on Latin. BDT 29, February
- 1986. It’s up to You. Dance Today 29 January p146
- 1986. Wasted opportunity. Dance Today 29 February p185
- 1986. Landmarks of memory. Dance Today 29 April p26
- 1986. Music and Dance. Dance Today 29 June p349
- 1992. Myself when young. Dance Today 36 October p28
- 1993. Liars, damn liars, and media critics. Dance Today 37 November
The Dance Teacher
- 1967. Prudent housekeeping. DT vol 16 November p9
- 1969. The case for a House Style. DT 18 February p29
- 1970. All this and ulcers too. DT 19 February p30
- 1970. IDTA Congress 1970. DT 19 September p168
- 1970. Eight fingers two thumbs. DT 19 October p195
- 1970. The Association charges. DT 19 November p218
- 1970. Day to day transactions. DT 19 December p244
- 1971. Decimal Quiz. DT 20 February p31
- 1980. The Gulbenkian Report. DT 30 November
- 1981. Latin or Disco. DT 30 January
- 1982. Beatrice Bunny’s Tale. DT 31 January (under non-de-plume Aesop Minimus)
- 1989. Youth dancing. DT 38 February p47
- 1990. Community Charge. DT 39 May p139
- 1990. Mystina. DT 39 November p341
- 1991. Ballroom Teachers Committee I. DT 40 May p154
- 1991. Ballroom Teachers Committee II. DT 40 June p192
- 1991. Vocational qualifications. DT 40 December p378
- 1992. Teachers’ Competition. DT 41 May 167
- 1992. Ballroom Teachers Committee. DT 41 September p29
- 1993. NVQs: Where are they now? DT 42 May p177
- 1993. Writing an article. DT 42 August p253
- 1994. Dance goes around & around. DT 43 March p97
- 1994. Dance Schools. DT 43 April p155
- 1994. Education can be fun. DT 43 May p191
- 1994. Straws in the wind. DT 43 June p257
- 1994. The Superdance League. DT 43 November p461
- 1995. NVQs The story continues DT 44 July p321
- 1995. Eulogy to Guy Howard DT 44 August p368
- 1996. The Taxman Cometh DT 45 May p229
- 1996. National Insurance contributions DT 45 June p277
- 1998. Aspects of teaching dance DT 47 March p81
- 1999. Children in the School DT 48 January p9
- 1999. Burn the floor DT 48 July p273
- 2000. Reaching the public DT 49 December p517
- 2001. The nature of dance DT 50 March p95
- 2001. Chided DT 50 October p429
Other articles
1981. Scarborough upbringing. The Dalesman, October p5422002. The Youthscan Project: teenage attitudes to, and involvement in, dance.